Grain Valley’s new library location

Comment

Examiner

Writer

Posted Feb. 20, 2014 at 10:59 PM

Posted Feb. 20, 2014 at 10:59 PM

Grain Valley

1. The Grain Valley branch of the Mid-Continent Public Lirbary moved into a new and roomier location this week. It’s at 101 S.W. Eagles Parkway, between Sears Hometown and El Maguey in the shopping center. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

“I hope we’re more visible to the community in the new location – better access maybe,” said branch manager Mary Reeder.

2. The new space is about 7,000 square feet, compared with 4,200 square feet at the previous location. There is a room set aside for programs, and there are two small areas where people can study or hold meetings.

“Hopefully we have more inviting spaces. That was the goal,” Reeder said.

The library has about 34,000 items in its collection, and library card holders can access materials from any of the Mid-Continent system’s close to 30 locations. Mid-Continent says 67,296 patrons visiited the Grain Valley branch last year.

3. It’s not just books. The Mid-Continent Public Library has a wide range of services available through its website, www.www.mymcpl.org, where you can find upcoming events – book clubs, programs for children, educational events – in Grain Valley and elsewhere. For example, the library is about half-way through its two-month winter reading challenge, “Somewhere in Time.” Read five books, and get involved. Details on the website.

4. A ribbon-cutting for the new Grain Valley locaiton is set for March 27. Reeder says the idea is to be in the current space for three to five years and then Mid-Continent would build a permanent library.

“I think the goal is to build about a 15,000-square-foot building,” she said.